So after a while searching and a few dead ends I’ve finally become the owner of a MX5, specifically a 2010 NC (mk3.5) 2.0 sport tech with a rag top, in true red…
Picked it up from Roddisons in Sheffield this morning, who have looked after it for the last 7 years, so I know it has been done properly. Also just like to say what a top bloke Paul Roddison is, a pleasure to chat with and came across as very open and obviously knows what’s what when it comes to MX5s… The plan next year is to get to some MoT days with Blyton not too far from my front door, although the main reason for getting it is to see if me and the family like open top motoring, with plenty of weekend jaunts planned with the missus or my son, and then maybe get something a bit newer down the line…
There are a few simple mods on the car already, the wider 215 tyres (if that even counts), Kenwood MP3\DAB unit with reversing camera, stubby aerial and the better wiper stalk…
I’d like to get a few track days in before I start to think about whether I want to go down the route of coilovers, new exhaust etc… but from an aesthetic point of view I am thinking of getting the alloys refurbished and changed to gun metal grey, as well as spraying the wing mirrors and the back of the roll over hoops gloss black, to kind of mimic the Miata Club model that was sold in America… I like the contrast of the black against the red…
I’ve already been trawling the forums for hints and tips for a good few months, and no doubt I will be posting lots of questions over the next few months…
Hi Justin and welcome to the OC.
Make sure you get to know your car underneath. MX5s are great wee cars but have a reputation for rust. I bought my 2009 NC about 4 years ago from a reputable garage. It had 25k on the clock and was in great condition but 12 months later the Mot picked up some non structural rust advisories to the chassis/subframe areas. I spent the winter with the car up on axle stands removing the rust then applying Dinitrol 900 rust converter followed by the 4941 protection with the ML into cavities. I also replaced one of the chassis braces. It sailed through the next Mot without comment. I like to think I caught the rust in time, pushed the rust clock back but I now have annual inspections underneath to revisit areas where rust is starting to reappear. As i said at the beginning get to know your car underneath,
Dave MacPherson
Thanks for the advice Dave, and yes I’m well aware of the rust issue on these and it is something I’ve had at the front of my mind when trying to find a good example. Came across quite a few that looked in excellent condition from the outside, but a quick look at MOT history online showed they were riddled with subframe and suspension rust…
I had as good of a look underneath last night as I could without axel stands and it seems to be solid. Sills and wheel arches all good too…
But yes, certainly something to keep an eye on…
Sold my NC True Red Sport (soft top) last year after 8 years happy ownership. Also purchased from Roddisons in Sheffield
My latest NC has been in his hands for various work before I bought it off an OC member last year.
Happy MX-5 motoring, should be a decent car buying off Paul.
If you got it from Roddisons. Asking them for advice re Mods would be a very sensible idea.
for an NC changing the suspension, and replacing the manifold with a 4-1 manifold and tune get you stability and a nice little tweak in acceleration / power.
Last sprint day the two that i noticed with body roll both confirmed they were on standard suspension with no mods for that.
then you get to desirables.
Lots talk about replacing the roll bars (sway bars to our us friends) with either new ones or secondhand RX8 bars.
So above are the priorities. then maybe consider stuff for body roll, I swapped the roll over hoops for a proper roll over bar which i think also helpded solidify it side to side, but any mods like that are possible lower then the suspension / manifold
First photo I’ve taken of it after cleaning and proofing the hood, although it is now showing quite a few green spots, so will have to try and work those out… Also gave it the once over inside and out so it actually feels like my car now…
Got the trombone cleaner out this morning and did all three drain holes too… I think the scuttle grommets have been sorted but need to double check and then get to cleaning the seatbelts to see if it improves the retraction which isn’t great… both tail pipes needs some elbow grease applying to them to get the shine back too…
Currently getting a few quotes back for refurbishing the wheels and having them changed to gun metal grey. Then would like to get a few other styling bits sorted before hopefully getting to some track days next year to see how far I want to go with suspension, exhaust mods etc…
